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UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS  * 

AUG  1 1915 

LAKE  FiejKEaOifc'BTISM^IRSITY 


REPORT 

OF 

James  G.  K.  McClure,  D.  D. 

PRESIDENT  PRO  TEMP&HH 


JUNE  14th,  1893. 


ore  <s 


To  the  Trustees  of  the  University : 


dO 

ID 

to 


I have  the  honor  to  present  the  following  Report  for  the 
time  in  which  1 have  served  the  University  as  its  Presiding 
Officer. 

I was  elected  President  Pro  Tempore  on  April  6th, 
1892,  by  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  session  in  Chicago.  Be- 
ing unprepared  for  such  a position  by  professional  training 
as  an  Educator  and  being  aware  of  the  responsibilities  of 
a College  Presidency  I hesitated  to  accept  the  election  so 
generously  made  to  me.  Feeling  however  the  necessity 
that  some  one  immediately  take  up  the  work  laid  down  by 
Dr.  Roberts  and  feeling  also  that  perhaps  I could  assume 
that  work  more  intelligently,  through  acquaintance  with  it, 
than  any  other  who  was  available  I signified  my  accept- 
ance of  the  Presidency  and  entered  upon  its  duties. 

No  classroom  work  was  assigned  me,  nor  was  it  intended 
that  I should  be  responsible  for  the  discipline  of  any  part 
of  the  Institution.  General  supervision  and  management 
were  my  particular  labor.  I soon  found  that  such  labor 
was  very  varied  and  very  detailed.  It  involved  the  care  of 
all  the  material  interests  of  the  University,  provision  for  its 
financial  welfare,  consultation  with  the  Faculties  on  subjects 
of  a complicated  or  serious  nature,  interviews  with  students 


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with  reference  to  their  criticisms  and  their  needs,  the  repre- 
sentation of  the  University  upon  public  occasions  by  ad- 
dresses and  otherwise,  communication  with  the  professional 
schools  of  the  University  system  and,  in  addition,  the  cor- 
respondence on  all  matters  that  naturally  or  unnaturally 
pertain  to  an  Educational  Institution  of  the  proportions  of 
our  own. 

Immediately  upon  assuming  the  Presidency,  I recog- 
nized that  an  advanced  movement  of  some  kind  must  be 
made  if  Lake  Forest  University  was  to  hold  an  honored 
place  in  the  Educational  world.  It  seemed  best  to  have 
that  advance  show  itself  in  the  development  of  our  Acad- 
emy Department.  The  Trustees  through  Mr.  G.  II.  Holt 
expressed  this  view,  and  under  his  care  as  Chairman  of  the 
Building  Committee,  pushed  forward  this  movement  and 
today  we  have  three  new  Academy  Buildings  of  a most 
worthy  character  completed,  furnished  and  ready  for  oc- 
cupancy. Their  location  is  admirable.  Its  is  high,  dry 
and  sightly.  The  Buildings  are  well  made  and  well  ar- 
ranged. Every  hygienic  principle  has  been  considered  in 
their  construction.  Reid  Hall  is  the  gift  of  the  late  Mr. 
Simon  Reid,  of  Lake  Forest,  and  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Reid. 
By  Mr.  Reid’s  will  we  came  into  possession  of  $20,000.00 
which  he  had  desired  should  be  used  for  a new  Academy. 
Mrs.  Reid  has  since  added  $15,000.00  to  her  husband’s 
bequest, — and  the  $35,000.00  have  erected  Reid  Hall.  It  is 
a noble  memorial  of  a noble  man.  This  Building  is  to  be 
used  for  Chapel,  Recitation,  Lecture  and  Museum  purposes. 
Its  Chemical  and  Physical  Laboratories  are  large  and  well 
arranged.  Mrs.  Reid  has  also  given  the  furniture  of  the 
Building  at  a cost  of  $1,600.00. 

The  “ Annie  Durand  Cottage,”  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Henry 
C.  Durand,  is  a handsome  structure,  suggesting  immediately 
that  it  is  designed  for  a home  both  by  its  exterior  form  and 


3 


its  interior  furniture.  Its  purpose  is  to  provide  accomoda- 
tion for  twenty-five  boys  and  for  the  Master  in  charge  and 
his  family.  No  building  could  be  better  adapted  to  its 
purpose  than  this.  It  is  a home  where  any  parent  may  Ik* 
glad  to  have  his  son.  Mrs.  Durand  has  not  only  given  this 
cottage  but  has  herself  furnished  it  with  completely  new 
furniture  throughout.  Our  debt  of  gratitude  to  her  is  large 
•and  is  acknowledged  with  great  pleasure. 

The  East  Dormitory,  which  was  built  from  funds  ad- 
vanced by  members  of  our  Board  and  others,  is  intended  to 
provide  accomodations  for  those  students  who  may  prefer 
*the  Dormitory  to  the  Cottage  system.  It  will  hold  fifty 
boys  besides  providing  for  a Master  and  his  wife.  In  this 
Building  as  in  the  Annie  Durand  Cottage  every  arrange- 
ment is  complete  for  the  boarding  of  the  students  who  room 
in  the  Building. 

The  grounds  about  these  Buildings  have  been  graded,  and 
•toads  and  paths  laid  out.  Also  three  tennis  courts  have 
been  levelled  off.  The  cost  of  this  work  has  beeh  $500.00. 
'It  has  been  done  under  the  directions  of  Mr.  Simons,  the 
Landscape  Gardener,  and  is  very  satisfactory. 

The  Cottage  and  Dormitory  have  cost  with  their  furni- 
ture $42,000.00. 

The  cost  of  this  entire  plant  including  the  furniture  of 
Reid  Hall  is  about  $80,000.00.  The.  material  used  has  been 
pressed  brick.  The  architects  were  Pond  ■&  Pond. 

Were  a second  Cottage  now  built  and  ready  for  use  it  is 
thought  that  students  would  be  available  for  it.  Its  need  is 
already  apparent. 

The  significance  of  this  new  Academy  development  is 
not  all  expressed  in  the  fact  that  we  have  three  new  Build- 
ings for  Academy  uses.  By  this  development  we  have  re- 
moved the  Academy  Department  from  tlu*  College  Campus 
•and  have  given  it  a habitat  by  itself.  This  separation  of  the 


4 


Academy  from  close  proximity  to  the  College  will  help  very 
much  in  establishing  such  different  kinds  of  discipline  for 
the  Academy  and  for  the  College  as  are  needed  by  the 
different  degrees  of  maturity  represented  in  the  two  Depart- 
ments. This  separation  also  releases  the  old  Academy  Dor- 
mitory and  allows  the  College  to  have  an  additional  building 
for  its  use.  Besides,  it  gives  the  College  the  building 
known  as  Academia,  previously  used  very  largely  by  the 
Academy  Students  as  an  Eating  Hall.  The  College  can  now 
appropriate  this  Academia  partly  for  a residence  for  a Pro- 
fessor and  partly  for  an  Eating  Hall  for  College  Students. 
Thus  College  and  Academy  have  been  benefitted  by  this 
new^  movement. 

Another  feature  of  advance  in  our  material  develop- 
ment during  the  past  year  is  the  building  of  a new  Boiler 
House.  It  was  found  that  the  heating  apparatus  for  the 
Buildings  on  the  College  grounds  was  inadequate.  Besides, 
the  system  of  heating  from  Boilers  placed  in  the  basement 
of  the  Dormitory  wras  very  untidy,  the  soot  defacing  the 
building.  The  Boilers  in  use  a year  ago  were  worn  out  and 
had  been  pronounced  unsafe.  It  was  therefore  decided  to 
make  a new  Boiler  House  placing  it  in  the  ravine  where  it 
would  be  almost  wholly  out  of  sight  and  where  coal  could 
easily  be  delivered  to  it,  secure  new  Boilers  and  put  in  an 
entirely  new  heating  plant.  The  decision  to  do  this  work 
was  reached  about  August  1st,  1892.  Work  was  imme- 
diately begun  and  before  cold  weather  had  set  in  the  Boilers 
were  in  their  places,  the  connections  made  and  the  success 
of  the  work  assured.  The  College  Dormitory  was  re- 
roofed, all  necessary  outside  repairs  were  made,  the  coal 
sheds  which  were  backed  up  against  the  Dormitory  were 
removed  and  the  building  was  given  two  coats  of  paint. 
The  result  has  been,  to  improve  the  appearance  of  the  Dor- 
mitory very  decidedly. 


The  removal  of  the  Boilers  from  the  Dormitory  left 
space  that  was  available  for  Chemical  Laboratory  purposes. 
A large  well-lighted  room  was  then  fitted  up  and  thirty -six 
tables  for  students  put  in,  with  all  necessary  working 
apparatus. 

At  the  same  time  that  this  work  was  doing,  city  water 
was  brought  into  the  College  building,  connections  were 
made  with  the  System  of  City  Sewerage  just  introduced 
into  Lake  Forest,  and  steam  pipes  were  laid  from  the  Cen- 
tral Boiler  House  to  all  the  College  Buildings.  This  work 
involved  an  expense  of  $11,845.00. 

During  this  year  Mr.  Henry  C.  Durand  has  decorated 
the  entire  interior  of  the  Art  Building  that  bears  his  name 
making  it  a very  attractive  as  well  as  a very  useful  building, 
and  Mrs.  Durand  has  added  furniture  to  several  of  its  rooms 
making  them  available  for  social  and  artistic  purposes. 
The  grounds  about  this  building  have  been  put  in  admir- 
able order. 

Mr.  Jacob  Beidler  during  the  year  has  completed  the 
house  built  by  him  for  occupancy  by  the  Professor  holding 
the  u Jacob  Beidler  Chair  of  Physical  Science.’-  This  house 
was  erected  in  memory  of  Mr.  Beidler’s  son,  John  Beidler 
who  died  in  his  youth,  full  of  the  promise  of  great  useful- 
ness in  the  service  of  humanity.  The  house  bears  the  name 
of  John  Beidler  and  will  always  be  the  means  of  keeping  in 
lasting  memory  one  whose  early  death  is  mourned  by  many. 
The  house  is  large  and  convenient.  It  evidences  the  abund- 
ant love  that  entered  into  its  erection. 

The  Financial  work  of  the  Institution  has  demanded  and 
secured  a very  large  portion  of  my  time  and  thought. 

The  University  year  closing  in  the  Summer  of  1892  was 
found  to  have  a deficit  in  the  current  expense  account  of 
$11,006.00.  That  amount  was  raised  by  subscription,  all 
of  it  but  $100.00  coming  from  our  own  Board  of  Trustees, 


6' 


and  though  it‘wasmot  all”  secured  imtil  the  University  year* 
opened  in  September,  it  was  secured  by  the  15th  of  Septem- 
ber and  so  we  began  the  new  year  with  a clean  sheet. 

Since  then  it  has  been > necessary  to  raise  $21,600.00  in- 
order  to  cover  the  special  expenses  caused  by  deficit  in  cur- 
rent account,  by  improvements  of  a permanent  nature  and  by 
grading  the  grounds  and  providing  furniture  for  the  new- 
Academy  Buildings.  That  amount  has  been* secured  in  sub- 
scriptions more  than  half  of  which  have  already  beem  paid, 
though  final  payments  are  not  due  until  September  1st, 
T893..  These  subscriptions  leave  the  University  free  of  alb 
indebtedness  at  this*  date. 

It  was  also  necessary  to  raise  various  sums  of  smaller 
amounts  imorder  to  meet  some,  special  needs  im  the  work  of 
teaching  and  to . provide  aid  for  students  who  could  not 
go  on  in*  their  courses  unassisted.^  For  these-  purposes, 
$1 , 068. 00  have  been  secured. . 

I desire  at  this  point  to  make ‘mention  of  those  who  have- 
contributed  to  the.  University  or  have  secured  contributions  * 
to  the  University  for  the^  purposes  above  named: 


Jacob  Befdler. 

G.  H.  Holt. 

E.  J.  Warner. 

G.  M.  Bogue. 
Marvin  Hughitt. 
L.  W.  Yaggy. 

H.  N.  Hibbard. 
N.  S.  Bouton. 
Arthur  Orr. 


H.C.  Durands 
William  Blair. 


C.  H . , McCormick. * 


D.  R.  Holt.. 
Chas.S.  Holt.  . 
JjohntH.  Dwight.. 
Mrs.  S.  Reid. 
Thomas  Murdoch. 
Calvin  Durand. 


H.  B.  Cragin. 


Abram  Poole. 

Thomas  D.  Jones. 
David  B.  Jones. 

Miss  Annie  M.  Brown. 
Mrs.  G.  S.  Hubbard. 


Thomas  Kane. 


William  Henry  Smith. 


T 


D.  Hillis:. 

S.  J.  McPherson: 

C.  M.  Henderson.. 

Herrick  Johnson.. 

Byron  L.  Smith. 

H..  C.  Chatfiel drT&y  lor .. 

Mrs.  H.  C.  Chatfield-Taylor . . 
Charles  Wood,  D:  D. 

J.  G.  K.  McClure.. 


Thomas  Lord. 

Mi\s.  Joseph  T.  Bowen: 

The*  Session  of  the  3rd1* 
Church.. 

The*  Session-  of  the  4th • 


Church. 

The  Session  of  the  -Evans-- 


Albert  M..  Day.. 


tom  church.. 


In  additon  to  the  sums  already  indicated  $3,000.00  have 
Been  paid  into  the  Treasury  for  current  expenses — so  that 
the  entire -amount  raised,  in?  ways  above-,  specified,  since  a 
year  ago  at  this  date  is  $91,668.00,  not  including  Mr.  Reid’s 
bequest  of  $20,000.00.. 

I ought  to  add  that  beside?  this,  amount  of  $91,668.00* 
Mrs..  C.,  B:  Farwell,  Dr.,  Hillis  and  others  have  raised, 
money  for  scholarship  purposes  the  exact  total  of  which  I 
do  not  know;  but  the  usefulness  for  good,  of . which  I do 
know;  with,  a firm*  conviction*  and  with,  a large- gratitude.. 
Hon.  C.  B.„  Farwell  has  obtained  from  the.  United,  States 
Museum  at  Washingtons  collection  of  minerals  which  have 
been  received,  and  placed  in;  their  cases  in  - the? Art  Building. 

In  the  Academy,  Dr.  A.  C.  Haven  has  established  the 
Haven  Gold  Medal  for  the  best  Commencement  Otation, 
and  Mr.  A.  C.  McNeill,  L..  F.  U.  ’85,.  has  established  a. 
prize  of  Fifty  Dollars-for  the  best  Essay  in  English:. 

In  the  College,  Mr.  E.  J.  Warner  has- established  two 
prizes  of  * Sixty  and  Forty  Dollars  for,  the  two  best  Essays 
on  a subject  selected  from  the  held  of.  Political  and  Social 
Science. 

The  Educational  work  of  the  University  has  gone  for- 
ward in  goodly  success  through  the  year.  The  absence  of 
a Permanent  President  has  been  much  felt.  The  election 


8 


of  John  M.  Coulter,  Ph.  D,  L.  L.  D.,  to  the  Presidency 
on  Feb.  27th,  1893,  provides  for  a great  need.  It  was 
expected  that  he  would  assume  the  duties  of  his  position 
here  early  in  the  Spring,  but  his  obligations  to  the  Indiana 
State  University  of  which  he  was  the  President  made  it 
necessary  that  he  remain  with  that  Institution  until  the 
close  of  the  University  year. 

With  his  Inauguration  as  President  of  Lake  Forest 
University  on  June  15th,  1893  we  may  look  forward  to  a 
bright  future  as  an  Institution,  for  he  comes  to  us 
praised  on  all  sides  for  scholarship,  judgment  of  men  and 
affairs,  administrative  ability  and  consecrated  character. 
His  very  name  will  immediately  draw  attention  to  Lake 
Forest.  His  methods  of  Education  will  approve  them- 
selves to  the  best  thinkers  on  Educational  lines. 

The  three  vacancies  that  existed  in  our  Board  of 
Trustees  a year  ago  have  been  filled  by  the  election  of 
Arthur  Orr,  Thomas  Kane  and  Newell  D.  Hillis.  The 
latter  as  a graduate  of  the  Lake  Forest  College  is  the 
Representative  of  the  Alumni  in  our  body.  Our  Board 
is  now  full,  having  with  the  President  elect  twenty-five 
members. 

I desire  in  concluding  this  Report  to  make  mention  of 
the  fidelity  with  which  the  Faculty  have  done  their  work 
in  the  various  departments  at  Lake  Forest  and  the  per- 
sonal kindness  which  they  have  shown  me  during  all  my 
temporary  Presidency. 

I desire  to  make  mention  also  of  the  cordial  relations 
which  have  existed  between  the  students  and  myself.  It 
has  been  a matter  of  great  regret  to  me  that  I have  not 
had  time  in  connection  with  my  work  as  a Pastor  to  be 
with  the  students  as  often  and  as  intimately  as  I wished. 

I desire  also  to  make  mention  of  the  kindness  of  the 
congregation  whose  minister  I am,  in  allowing  me  to  give 


9 


so  very  large  part  of  my  thought  and  attention  to  this 
University  work. 

And  I desire  to  make  mention  of  the  debt  of  gratitude 
I owe  and  shall  always  owe  the  members  of  this  Board  of 
Trustees  for  the  sympathy,  support  and  help  that  they 
have  given  me  during  these  fourteen  and  a half  months. 
During  those  months,  with  the  exception  of  the  fortnight 
passed  in  May  1893  while  in  attendance  as  a Commis- 
sioner to  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  I have  been  absent  from  Lake  Forest  but 
one  week.  It  seemed  as  though  University  needs  would 
better  be  met  by  my  presence  than  my  absence,  both  dur- 
ing the  vacation  periods  and  in  term  time.  In  all  this 
period  the  Trustees  have  been  the  ones  who  have  made  it 
possible  to  keep  our  work  moving  and  to  bring  it  on  its 
way  with  such  a degree  of  sucesss. 

I thank  them  individually  and  I thank  them  collec- 
tively for  what  they  have  done.  They  have  shown  devo- 
tion, self-sacrificing  devotion  to  this  Institution.  No 
Board  could  have  done  more  than  they.  I rejoice  in  the 
larger  respect,  and  the  stronger  affection  for  them  which 
have  come  to  me  through  this  year’s  association  with 
them. 

Especially  do  I recognize  the  zeal,  faithfulness  and 
efficiency  of  the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee 
who  have  been  called  upon  to  administer  so  largely  the 
affairs  of  the  Institution  at  much  cost  of  time  and  effort. 

And  I note  with  gratitude  the  work  done  by  the  In- 
struction Committee  in  the  delicate  and  important  inter- 
ests that  have  come  to  that  Committee  for  consideration 
and  action. 

As  this  year  closes  I congratulate  the  Board  that  all 
the  Professional  Schools,  Medical,  Dental  and  Law  are  in 
more  flourishing  condition  than  twelve  months  ago.  The 


10 


mew  Laboratory  of  Rush  Medical  College  has  its  walls  up. 
It  is  a beautiful  and  commodious  building  and  will  greatly 
increase  »the  efficiency  of  Instruction.  The  corner  stone 
of  the  Dental  College  Building  was  laid ‘this  week.  It  ad- 
joins the  Laboratory  of  Rush  College  and  ‘both  are  on  the 
block  west  of  the  Presbyterian  Hospital.  The  Dental 
College  Building  will  be  of  handsome  and  large  pro- 
portions and  will  accommodate  the  most  numerously 
attended  Derttal ‘School  in  the  world. 

I shall  always  ‘count  it  a pleasure  that  I have  been 
•able  to  render  the  service  of  this  period  gratuitously 
and  without  the  least  charge  to  the  University  for  any 
personal,  official  or  administrative  expense. 

The  needs  of  Lake  Forest  University  are  many,  but  to 
•my  mind  her  supreme  needs  are  not  in  material  lines,  oc- 
cupied as  I have  been  with  such,  but  are  in  the  true  spirit 
of  prayer  and  the  true  ‘consecration  to  human  good  on  the 
part  of  her  triends.  Given  generous  fidelity  to  her  motto 
u For  Christ  and  -the  Church'”  ‘by  those  who  make  her 
life,  and  her  future  of  usefulness  and  of  development 
is  sure. 

In  grateful  recognition  ot  the  kindness  of  Almighty 
God  in  all  our  affairs  and  in  earnest  desire  that  those 
.affairs  may  always  have  His  benediction 

I am  with  great  respect, 

JAMES  G.  K.  McCLURE. 


